Thursday, September 08, 2005

Hurricane Relief and the U.S. Military

Think there hasn't been a huge response to Hurricane Katrina from the military? Guess again. Here's a small peek at what help is coming from...

the U.S. Army...

Maj. Timothy A. Doherty, from the 148th Medical Company, Georgia Army National Guard, walks the streets of New Orleans, searching for people stranded by Hurricane Katrina floodwaters. Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Brien Aho.

the U.S. Navy...

Biloxi, Miss. (Sept. 6, 2005) - A U.S. Navy Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC), assigned to Assault Craft Unit Four (ACU-4), arrives on the beach in Biloxi, Miss., to offload relief supplies for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. ACU-4 is currently assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5). The Navy's involvement in the Hurricane Katrina humanitarian assistance operations is led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in conjunction with the Department of Defense. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Michael Sandberg

the U.S. Air Force...

Helicopter mission changes as rescue tempo slowsJACKSON, Miss. -- Maintenance crews work on an HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopter after it broke before launching. Aircrews from active and Reserve units are here working to rescue people trapped by the flood waters of Hurricane Katrina's destruction along the U.S. southern coast. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Efrain Gonzalez

the U.S. Marines...

Cpl. John Forero, an Assault Amphibian Vehicle crew chief, uses hand signals to cummunicate to another crew member while his AAV floats through the city streets of eastern New Orleans and Marines search for survivors and deliver food and water. Forero is a Queens, N.Y., native and member of Bravo Co., 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion, 4thMarDiv attached to Special Purpose Marine Air/Ground Task Force Katrina. The Marines of Special Purpose MAGTF Katrina are the Marine support effort headquartered at Naval Air Station/Joint Reserve Base Belle Chasse, La outside of New Orleans, supporting Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

the U.S. Coast Guard...

NEW ORLEANS, La. (Sept. 1, 2005) - A Coast Guard member looks on as a tug and barge brings approximately 1,000 New Orleans residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina to a safe haven near the Algiers Point ferry terminal. U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Petty Officer 2nd Class Bobby Nash.

Thanks to all of you who donated to this effort, especially to those of you who have donated to my sponsored charity, the Operation Katrina Soldiers' Relief Fund. If you haven't yet, please consider a donation to the charity of your choice. And if you're donating to one of the charities listed at the link above, don't forget to log your contribution so that it can be added to the tally - you can do so anonymously.

An Iraqi Security Force (ISF) soldier provides security while other ISF soldiers move in to secure a selected target house during a training exercise at Camp Fallujah, Iraq, on Aug. 29, 2005. Marines are currently training the ISF in order to independently maintain control of Fallujah. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Robert R. Attebury)

Veterinarians with the group treated farm animals and distributed enough medication for 2,900 animals. The medicine will help fight against worms, the most common illness for the animals here.

This group of service members included American medical and veterinary personnel, Romanian soldiers and dentists, and a security element of Afghan National Army and Coalition soldiers.

“The people in remote villages have little or no visibility of the efforts of the Afghan government to improve and stabilize their country,” said Capt. Paul Larson, commander Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion 503rd Infantry (Airborne). “So when they see this level of goodwill coming from their own authorities, along with Coalition forces, it leaves a lasting impression; and that impression is nothing but good.”

In Khowst province, Afghan medics and a U.S. medic team conducted VMOs in five separate villages, as well as a refugee camp. During the seven-day mission, which started Aug. 24, they treated 3,832 Afghans, including 2,630 children, and some 1,579 animals.

These VMOs are not only opportunities for Afghan doctors and medics to work with U.S. medics to help Afghan citizens receive medical treatment; they are also opportunities to learn from each other.

“As Afghan doctors, our experience working side-by-side with the Americans helps us to improve our techniques and learn new methods of treatment,” said Dr. Rasool Habibi, an Afghan doctor from Khowst City . “It also helps to calm any fears the residents may have when they can see an Afghan doctor working with the Americans.”“We find ourselves engaged in a fight in which success is measured by the population’s belief that their local leaders and security forces are strong and committed to protecting and serving them,” said Brig. Gen. James Champion, Combined Joint Task Force-76 Deputy Commanding General. “Conducting these types of village medical operations fosters confidence in the government and further commits the population to supporting their government and its' programs.”

SUEZ TRANSIT — The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge transits the Suez Canal, Aug. 30, 2005. Kearsarge and embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit are deployed in support of the global war on terrorism. The Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group completed its maritime security operations as part of the U.S. 5th Fleet as it transited the Suez Canal and exited into the Mediterranean Sea. U.S. Navy photo by Airman Christopher Newsome

In Today's News - Thursday, September 8, 2005

Quote of the Day

"The United States made a commitment to finish the job and we must do so. Timing in war is never predictable--there are no guarantees. We can and will prevail, but only if we persevere. Any who say we have lost or are losing are flat wrong. We are not."-- Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld,

Today in History1380 - The Russians defeat the Tartars at Kulikovo - the beginning of the end for the Tartars.1522 - Spanish navigator Juan de Elcano returns to Spain, completing the first circumnavigation of the globe and paving the way for the Magellan expedition.1565 - The first permanent settlement in the U.S. forms at St. Augustine, FL.1664 - The Dutch surrender New Amsterdam (NY) to 300 English soldiers.1858 - Lincoln makes his speech about when you can fool people (some of the time / all of the time)1863 - 47 Texas volunteers repel a Federal invasion force at Sabine Pass, TX.1883 - The Northern Pacific Rail Road's last spike is driven at Independence Creek, MT.1892 - The "The Pledge of Allegiance" first appears(Youth's Companion).1900- A hurricane and tidal wave destroy Galveston, TX, killing approximately 6,000. Pending the final word on Katrina, it is the most deadly in U.S. history.1920 - The U.S. Air Mail service begins.1921 - Margaret Gorman of Washington, D.C., becomes the first to be crowned Miss America.1939 - FDR declares a "limited national emergency" due to the war in Europe.1941 - The entire Jewish community of Meretsch, Lithuania is exterminated.1943 - Italy surrenders to the Allies.1944 - The first V-2 rocket lands in Britain.1945 - The U.S. invades Japanese-held Korea.1951 - Japan signs a peace treaty with 48 countries.1954 - The S.E. Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) is formed - to stop the spread of Communism in Southeast Asia.1965 - Hurricane Betsy kills 75 in Louisiana and Florida.1967 - Surveyor-5 is launched; it will make a soft landing on the Moon September 10th.1967 - Uganda abolishes its traditional tribal kingdoms, becoming a republic.1973 - Hank Aaron sets a record a record for the most homeruns in 1 league (709).1974 - President Gerald Ford pardons former President Richard Nixon of all Federal crimes.1983 - NASA launches RCA-6.1990 - The Ellis Island Historical Site opens on Eliis Island, NYC.